Liquid-level gauge



Nov. 23 1926.

w. N. FRANKk LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 24. 1925 N.RA. S, o@ .v.. mf N n NE .l

Nov. 23 192e. l 1,607,736

`W. N. FRANK bIQUID LEVEL GAUGE Filed Feb. 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z2FIG' 4 0 35- H l C .A

ATTQR'NEYS Patented Nov. 23, 1926'. n

UNITED STATES PATE-Nr OFFICE.

WALTER N. FRANK, or DAYTON, omo, AssIGNon To THE enoLAN MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, E DAYTON, omo, A conPoBATIoN or DELAWARE.

LIQUID-LEVEL GAUGE.

Application led February 24, 1925. Serial No, 11,259.

a liquid level gauge having a relatively stiff.v

and very strong communicating means from l the tank unit to theindicator unit on the dashboard of an automobile to take the place ofthe relatively fine limber communicating means heretofore employed insuch gauges.

It is the object of my invention to provide l0 such a communicatingmeans which will be iiexible and therefore unlike the rigid or nearlyrigid rods and wires heretofore employed in other types -of gauges. v'Inother words, I provide a communicating means which is sufficiently rigidto `be capable of taking thrusts around corners and rbends Withoutbuckling and not too rigid to be passed around corners or bends. l

It is an additional object to provide a gauge inA which the float may bemoved freely with respect to the communicating means in one directionand in which the communicating means will be moved in oppositedirections by independent means at either end of the communicatingmeans.

It is my object to provide a gauge'.I in which a yielding means tends toforce the Wire communicating means forwardly and yielding means in theindicator head attempts to pull the wire forwardly inl eooperationtherewith. In such a eombination it is my object to provide a freemoving float arm and float which may travel ahead of the movement of thewire on the up stroke of the iioat and will travel with the wire whenthe wire is being pulled backwardly and the float descends, thus savingthe wire one half of the thrusts and movements of the float arm,particularly when the float arm makes a quick upward surge due to thebouncing of the automobile on which the gauge is mounted.

Itis my object to provide a gauge with a relatively stiff communicatingmeans in a housing connected to a tank unit and an indicator head remotefrom oneY another, the wire being pulled yieldingly from the'Orward end,and pushed yieldingly from the rear end and the float and float armmoving independently of the wire in one direction and moving against thesprings in the other direction.

It is an additional object to provide a completely enclosed tank unitfor enclosing a yielding means and accompanying mechanism connected withthe communicating wire to 'prevent tampering therewith by the personinstalling the gauge. i

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete gauge partially broken awaytov show the impelling spring in the tank unit with the tank in section;

Figure 2 is a section through the indicator head; y

'Figure 3 is a plan view of the attaching plate of the tank unit;

lFigure 4 is a section taken vertically through the tank unit showingthe parts with the float arm in its lowermost position;

Figure 5 is a similar view of the floatarm in which it is running aheadof the other parts'in its upward movement;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the float arm in its uppermostposition;

Figure 7 is a front elevation from the fioat end of the tank unit withthe float arm in section; and y Figure 8 is a section on the line 8 8 ofFigure 5.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a case enclosing the indicatorunit. There is mountedon the front end of the open cup-shaped case 1 aring-2 carrying a front lplate 3 under the glass 4. This plate is cut-away at 5 to disclose the numerals on theL drinn 7 carried. on theshaft 8.v This shaft is journalled .in the spaced arms of a U- vshapedsupport 9.- These arms are connected by a transverse member "10 which isboltedto the inside of the cup 1 by the bolts 11. It also has a tubularextension 12 extending out of the cup having a threaded portion 13 forreceiving a knurled sleeve 14 to be hereinafter described.

The shaft 8 has wound around it a light helical spring 14a one end ofwhich is con,- nectcd to a stud 15 on the Support 9 and the other end ofwhich is connected to a pin 16 which forms a part of the hub of the drum7 Mounted on this drum and shaft 8A is a pulley 17 carrying a chain 18connectcd to a cross pin 19 which passes through the ldrum and pulley.`This chain is connected to the relatively stiff wire.20 which is guidedby a closelycoiled wireatube 21 which 'acts as a guide tube. This tubeis in turn enclosed throughout the major portion of its length by a mainprotecting tube 22.

The forward end of this` main protecting threaded sleeve 31. ried on thedetachable elongated cup 32 tube is -fastened'to the inner by a clampingsleeve 23.

The forward end of the tube 21 is enclosed by a sldable brass or othermetal tube 24. This tube is slidable on the tube 21. It is eonnectedatits forward end by the sleeve-14 to the indicator unit. 25 is a lock nutcarried on the threaded end 26 at the forward end of the tube 24. Asplit clamping sleeve 27 is also provided on the other endof the tube 24with -a clamping nut 28 so that the tube can be clamped in position onthe inner tube 21 at any desired position. A limiting sleeve -29is'provided y-to prevent the brass tube from passing outwardly beyond apredetermined distance.

At theother end of the tube is provided a knurled 'internally threadedsleeve 30 which is threaded upon the externally This sleeve 31 iscarguidmg tube which is mounted on the tank plate 33 by the screws 34. Agasket 35 is interposed between the flange 36 and the tank plate 33.

From the ins'ide of this tank plate is suspended a housing which hasparallel side walls 37 and converging end walls 38 and 39, the latter ofwhich is cut away at 40 to permit of the movement of the float arm 41and its rod 42, This oat arm has its inner end turned into an eye 43 sothat it can turn upon. the transverse pivotal bolt 44 carrie-d on theside walls 37 of the housing. On this bolt 44 is also carried the arm 45which has depending below the bolt rearwardly a cam finger 46. The arm41, however, travels freely with respect to the arm 45 and arm 46, savewhen 41 and 46 engage one' another.

Within this housing is located a spring having a looped portion 47 aboutthe bolt 44 and an upwardly extending portion 48 engaging at 49 in anotch 50 at the back of the lever 45 tending to impel the arm forwardly.

The other end'of the spring extends upwardlyat. 51 into a loop 52. Thisloop engages on therear wall of the housing.

"them to 4puevent -tampering with them.

It willfbe further observed that in the tubularhieinbcr 31 are twoenlarged apertures or eyllrhdricall cut away portions 54 and 55 Joinedby a narrow passageway 56 which acts as a so-callcd g'sllock `or nieansto preventgasoline from traveling down the tube with the wire.

Tf desired a gasket 57 may be provided between the tank plate 33 and thetank wall 58.

The tank arm 42 is provided with a circular float 59.

It will be understood that. I desire to comprehend within my'inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsof use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a liquid level gauge, the combination with a tank for thereception of a liquid and provided with a casing of cup form, a bracketdepending from the casing within the tank, of an indicator including anindicator'drum and a housing therefor, an arm pivotally mountedon saiddepending bracket and extending into` the casing of cup form, -acommunicating means connected to the end of said arm at one end and itsother end operatively connected to the drum, a protecting covering forsaid communicating means, spring means associated with the drum forimparting a pulling action on the communieating means, and a springmeans associated with the arm for imparting a pushing action on saidcommunicating means.

2. In a liquid level gauge, the combination= with a tank provided with ahousing, a bracket depending from the housing within the tank, of amember pivoted on said bracket with one end extending into said housingand provided with an arm at its other end close to the pivot andprojecting laterally, float means mounted on the pivot of said memberand responsive to the liquid level and cooperating with said arm whenthe liquid level lowers, an indicating means including an indicatordrum, a communicating connector operatively connected with vthe drum andattached t-o said member, a protecting cover for said connector,tensioning means associated with the drum for eX- erting a pullingaction on said connector, and tensioning means mounted on the pivot andcooperatively associated with the member to exert a pushing action onthe connector for actuating the indicator drum when the float meansresponds to the rise of the 'ff-liquid level in the tank.

3. In a liquid level gauge, the combination with a tank having a bracketoperatively supported by and depending within the tank, a memberfulcrumed on the bracket comprising long and short arms, the long armeX- tending radially from the fulcrumpthe short arm being curved fromthe fulcrum with its terminal'y at approximately right angles to thelong arm, float means operatively mount ed on the fulcrum and coactingwith the terminal of the curved arm, the float means belarl ingresponsive to the rise'of the liquid level,

an indicator' consisting of an indicator drum the long arm of saidmember, a iexible coverngfor the communicating means, tensioning meansoperatively associated with the drum and exerting apulling act-ion onthe communicating means, and spring tensioning means on the fulcrum andcoo erating with the long arm ofl said member or exerting a pushingaction on the communicating means as the oat means responds to the riseof the liquid level.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si 'WALTER N.

ature. R NK.

